London Jewellery School - The Best Jewellery School Ever !

I've just attended yet another course at this amazing jewellery school. I booked the  silversmithing class, as this is an area of jewellery making I want to pursue. Click here for more information on this class.

My silversmith tutor Michelle Leaver was lovely and took us through the process of creating a sterling silver pendant charm. The beautiful  pendant was created in 2 hours and I absolutely love my design. I feel fairly confident that I would like to use this technique again, so that I create personalised sterling silver jewellery pieces for my customers.

My sterling silver charm pendant created at the London Jewellery School

I have to say the London Jewellery School is one of the best schools to attend if you want to  learn to create jewellery either as a hobby or as a fully fledged jewellery designer. All the tutors  are professional jewellers. The taster courses are wonderful and give an excellent introduction to the various jewellery techniques offered by the school.

For those who want to pursue a career in jewellery design, I recommend the Diploma in Creative Jewellery
which is a comprehensive year-long course that runs 1-day a week and covers a broad range of jewellery techniques from traditional silverwork and design to beading, metal clay and fashion jewellery.

www.londonjewelleryschool.co.uk/

Thank you London Jewellery School  for your excellent courses, they are value for money and I learn't so much. I can't wait to book my next course!

Inspiring Individuals who Introduced Me To Jewellery Making

I love creating jewellery and felt at this point I should introduce you to the amazing individuals who inspired me in my jewellery making  journey. I would like to introduce you to my very first jewellery making teacher Shafina Fazaldad.

Shafina  is originally from Pakistan and opened her jewellery shop in East Ham (London) after taking a jewellery making course  at a local school. Just like me she was so inspired by her teacher, that she told her husband that she wanted to open a jewellery shop. Shafina explains “the first 6 months of opening the shop was difficult, but I never gave up”.  Shafina started off selling ready made jewellery, but then added beads to the shop. Today Safina’s bead shop is a very successful local  business, it brings the local community together as a lot of her  customers spend time sharing and talking about their jewellery designs.

Shafina Fazaldad - Jewellery Shop Owner and  Designer

I first met Shafina when I had a day off from work and I stumbled across her bead shop, I loved the sparkly beads on show. Shafina said she offered jewellery making classes, so I booked a one hour session with her and I can tell you from that very day I was hooked, my jewellery making journey had begun.  Below is my first ever jewellery design.

My first ever jewellery design set

What I love about Shafina is that she is a very kind and patient teacher, her jewellery making techniques are exquisite and all her  customer say she is very friendly, that’s why you often see customers hanging around the shop for a chat and a cup of tea graciously offered by Shafina.

Shafina says her customers and jewellery making clients are supportive, but the reason I think people keep coming back to her shop is that she is very knowledgeable about jewellery making, you can always find what you need to make beautiful jewellery and Shafina always gives helpful hints to get your jewellery project  started.

Shafina and her Jewellery Shop

I asked Shafina who was her favourite jewellery designers and she mentioned Linda Jones who is an expert in intricate wire work.

I want to thank Shafina for allowing me to interview her, I love purchasing my jewellery findings from her shop, as some of the findings are so unique, that you cannot find them anywhere else.

If you wish to purchase beads, accessories, jewellery kit or anything pertaining to jewellery making , Shafina’s details  are below, I highly recommend her.

Address:  Handmade Jewellery and Beads Unit 48-50, East Ham Shopping Hall, Myrtle Road, East Ham London E6 1HY

Contact: 07859240695

Email: s.fazaldad@btinternet.com

How Creative Beading Can Help Relieve Symptoms of Anxiety and Depression Caused by Chronic Illness

Carrying on the theme, looking at the therapeutic benefits of beading and how it relieves anxiety and depression. I want to share  the story of my friend Dawn Walker who is  currently  living with an illness  that manifests itself with constant chronic pain.

I interviewed  Dawn and asked her a  few questions about how she copes with her illness and discussed  how jewellery making helps her therapeutically. I hope her answers will help others who are undergoing  challenging times will be encouraged by this blog  post with the view  that there is light at the end of tunnel  through creativity.

Can you tell me a little about your illness and how it impacts on your health

I have chronic pelvic pain which hasn't been given a conclusive diagnosis. I am in constant acute pain 24/7 and only get varying levels of relief from a number of opiates and strong painkillers, ranging from mild to moderate. On a scale of 1 - 10 my days go from a 6/7 which takes a lot from myself for it to be just bearable, but the pain increases in waves, which literally wash over me. When the pain worsens I struggle to keep control.

My illness has affected every part of my life, there are weeks where I simply cannot get out of bed because of the pain and have to remain in my bedroom all day ( the worst part of that is all the days I've missed spending time with my 2 two sons).

Physically, I find it hard to walk and most days I can only walk a few feet. There are times where I won't leave the house for weeks on end.   Most nights I don't sleep, if I'm lucky I may get one full night of sleep a week then maybe a few hours a few hours but more often than not I will not sleep a wink.

I think the most upsetting thing is the way all the medication I  take  affects my memory, I've gone from intelligent, articulate to someone who can't hold a sentence, I often forget the simplest of words. I have violent limb spasms, I've scolded myself countless times.

I'm unable to do any housework, I can't cook a family meal unaided as I can't bend to the oven. 

I also have Fowlers Syndrome, whereby I can no longer empty my bladder spontaneously and, now have to self-catheterise, which is horrible believe me.

Emotionally, my illness has driven me to the lowest of lows, because people can't see anything physical. I became suicidal and the last 6 months have been very challenging for me. I've battled my demons and every day was a struggle

What made you decide to turn to jewellery making

I'd saw a bracelet on eBay and I commented to fiancé that I could make a similar bracelet with my own personal touches, so I ordered some jewellery making supplies and  a few days a later a couple of small  jiffy envelopes arrived with my supplies. That very day I sat down and started making jewellery. Initially I used a lot of upcycled components from my own jewellery collection.

Up until that day my life was at all time low and I was really struggling with thoughts of self harm but  jewellery making served as a new outlet for me  and  had a huge impact on my life, I haven't looked back.

 

Beautiful Wire Wrap Bracelet created and designed by Dawn Walker

How has jewellery making helped you personally

Jewellery making for me has given me so much, I've found solace in my jewellery making. I've made friends through Facebook I’ve met some amazing people too.

I've found a new purpose in life and even though my daily life is still a struggle, when I sit down and my hands start making something that I'd pictured in my mind, I can lose myself in what I'm doing. It helps quieten my mind and helps me focus when my pain often becomes so bad that I lose control and panic.  And I know that making jewellery is what I really want to do, to learn, I desperately want to become skilled jewellery maker. I know that's where my journey is to be, I've thoroughly enjoyed it thus far and know the road ahead is going to be an exciting one.

Gorgeous Beaded Bracelet by Dawn Walker 

I want to thank Dawn for her candid and heartfelt answers. 

Below are  a few of Dawn’s exquisite jewellery designs

Crystal and Wire Wrap Bracelet by Dawn Walker

Exquisite Wire Wrap Pendant Necklace created and designed by Dawn Walker

Why I Love Creating Beautiful Handmade Beaded Jewellery

I started making my own jewellery, because I love shiny sparkly things, but more importantly, I can make bespoke, one of a kind jewellery designs, that can go with any outfit I have in my wardrobe. It's literally like being a kid in a candy shop, I choose the colour of the beads, the findings, the clasps and "voila", I have my own unique piece of jewellery.

I was talking with my fellow jewellery designers a few days ago and asked them what was their biggest challenge when it came to jewellery design,  the majority of them said "coming up with unique new designs". Thankfully I've never have that problem, nearly everyday I have designs in my head, mostly influenced by the things I see around me. I can be walking in my local park and designs come flooding in. I always have my jewellery notebook with me and jot down designs in this book.

Most of the time jewellery designs spring on me when I'm ready to go to bed and there have been many times when I've woken up at 5am, took out my jewellery tool kit and started making jewellery there and then.

My mind is always "buzzing " with ideas. I absolutely find jewellery to be cathartic and therapeutic, I'm fully absorbed when I'm creating my designs. I'm convinced jewellery making lowers blood pressure, eases anxiety and brings a sense of fufillment and creativeness, this is why I would like to give my blog readers a free newsletter containing lots tips on how to create your own jewellery, and as a special gft, I'm giving the first 50 subscribers a free handmade bracelet designed by myself. It's easy  to subscribe just leave your name and email in the blue box  to your right.